Timeline for new French, German and Spanish GCSEs
An update on the development of the new French, German and Spanish GCSEs (for first teaching from September 2024; first examination in summer 2026).
Development of the new GCSE assessments
Since January 2022, when the DfE and Ofqual published their consultation outcomes on the new subject content for GCSE French, German and Spanish, we have been working hard to research, develop and trial these new assessments.
We are now able to share a more detailed timeline of the required regulatory process for Ofqual approval of the new specifications and sample assessment materials.
The best way to stay informed of these developments over the coming months and years is to sign up for my monthly languages email updates.
Please note that any delays in the Ofqual accreditation process may impact on this timeline.
| Date | Ofqual process |
| November 2022 | First submission of draft specification and Sample Assessment Materials to Ofqual for GCSE French. Draft materials will be made available to teachers online. |
| January 2023 | First feedback on French GCSE submission from Ofqual expected. |
| Spring 2023 | Expected accreditation of GCSE French will trigger submission of GCSE German and Spanish draft materials. These draft materials would then be made available to teachers online. |
| Summer 2023 | Expected accreditation of GCSE German and Spanish.
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Throughout the development and accreditation process, we will be keeping you updated and continuing to provide relevant training and support materials.
| Date | Teacher support available |
| July 2022 | GCSE Network events online. Book now. |
| September 2022 | Year 7 and Year 8 students studying MFL will be the first cohorts taking the new 2024 qualifications (if they continue with French, German and Spanish to GCSE). |
| 26 September 2022 | ‘Effective strategies for integrating teaching and learning of phonics’ training event. |
| November-December 2022 | Online and in-person launch events with teachers will be made available for booking. |
| Spring 2023 | More online and in-person launch events with teachers will be made available for booking. |
| September 2023 | Final year 10 cohort will start studying the current (2016 specification) GCSE French, German and Spanish qualifications. |
| Autumn-winter 2023 | Training events on delivering and assessing the new qualification. Publication of additional support materials. |
| Spring-summer 2024 | More training events on delivering and assessing the new qualification. Publication of additional support materials. |
| September 2024 | First Year 10 cohort will start the new (2024) GCSE French, German and Spanish qualifications. |
| Autumn 2024 | Continued training opportunities on application of the mark criteria and delivery of the speaking assessments. |
| Summer 2025 | Final assessment of the current (2016 specification) GCSEs in French, German and Spanish. |
| September 2025 | Second year 10 cohort will start the new (2024 specification) GCSE French, German and Spanish qualifications. |
| May-June 2026 | First assessment of the new (2024) GCSEs in French, German and Spanish. |
Teachers are advised to continue to teach KS3 students in the normal way for the time being. The same overall language skills, grammar and cultural awareness will continue to be relevant in forming strong foundations for them as linguists and in fostering their enthusiasm to continue with their language studies at GCSE.
New KS3 front-of-class vocab-building resources for Dynamo, ¡Viva! (Segunda edición) and Stimmt! will be published in autumn 2022, with new phonics resources released from autumn 2022 through to spring 2023 - all designed to lay foundations for the new 2024 GCSE.
For the full details of the subject content, please read the consultation responses and outcomes:
Rebecca Waker
Languages
